A flat bed scanner with a minimum resolution of 300 DPI and some sort of transparency
adapter is needed. Many scanners come equipped with transparency adapters, but even an
inexpensive scanner can be converted with a transparency adapter made out of a high
frequency fluorescent light

Tips for obtaining a good scan:

a) make certain that the diffraction pattern axis is parallel to the (long) axis of the
scanner. While an image can be rotated in most image processing programs, this will
introduce distortion into the image

b) Set the initial image defaults to the minimum brightness and gamma that will show
the diffraction lines. Low contrast should be used.

c) Save the image in *.TIF or a similar uncompressed format

d) While the programs used in this tutorial will work with color images, it is best to
set the scan to monochrome 256 shades of gray

This image is an unknown vanadium-iron oxide from the Christy Vanadium Mine in
Arkansas. The diffraction pattern was prepared using Cu X-rays and had an extremely high
background from the Fe fluorescence. The film was so dark that the inner emulsion was
removed to lighten the image. After adjusting the gamma and brightness, the diffraction
lines were clearly visible. This image, representing somewhat of a "worst-case
scenario" will be used in the rest of the tutorial.

The image below was prepared with a high frequency fluorescent light as a transparency
adapter. The film was scanned by placing it in a plastic film preserver sleeve attached to
a black piece of foamboard. The fluorescent light was placed on top of an opening in the
foamboard.

The image below was taken using a film scanning device that came with the same scanner.
There are subtle differences in the background that actually make this a better scan
despite being visually inferior to the scan above.

This image is the mineral ferrostrunzite from Clear Springs Mine Bartow, Florida. The
diffraction pattern was prepared using a Gandolphi camera and Co X-rays. The image
has a low background and was scanned with minimal adjustment of the gamma and brightness.
A large sphere mount (0.7mm) was used and this resulted in a very dark, but broad
diffraction line on the film.

This image is an undescribed mineral species related to ferrostrunzite from CF Hardee
Mine in Florida. The film was also prepared using Co X-rays and a Gandolphi camera. The
sample was mounted as a sphere <0.2mm in diameter.